Pair charged, weapons seized

DURHAM -- Two men face several charges after Durham Regional Police seized four guns from a north Ajax home.

The arrests were part of an ongoing investigation into a home invasion in Oshawa on July 28 in which a man was shot in the arm.

Officers with 17 Division (Oshawa) Criminal Investigations Bureau (CIB) and the Offender Management Unit (OMU) arrested the two men. Police believe one of the men, an 18-year-old, was one of six males involved in the home invasion.

Durham police don’t believe the other male was involved in the home invasion, but was arrested because of the firearms seized.

The two were arrested around 3:40 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7 at the Ajax home. While searching the house, police found three shotguns, one rifle, two pellet guns, a sword and 30 rounds of ammunition.

Nicholas Hunte, 18, of no fixed address, faces 15 charges, including discharging a firearm, careless use of a firearm, pointing a firearm, robbery, possessing dangerous weapons, breaking and entering, using a firearm while committing an offence, obstructing police, possession of a controlled substance (marijuana), using a disguise and two counts of breaching a prohibition order.

Joshua Gillett, 20, of Fishlock Street in Ajax, has been charged with three counts each of careless storage of a firearm, possessing a dangerous weapon, unlicensed possession of an unregistered firearm and possessing an unauthorized firearm. He’s also been charged with possessing a restricted firearm with ammunition  and possessing a weapon obtained by crime.

The two men were held for a bail hearing.

The Durham police continue to look for three other suspects in the home invasion.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Rob Moore at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 3617, or Detective Constable Sheri Tate at ext. 2740.

Anonymous tips can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.